Sunday, June 22, 2014

The Signs of Summer

There is no doubt that summer has truly begun in my corner of Virginia!
A small carnival has come to the town where I live.
The nest of Eastern Phoebe's above our living room window will soon enough get their wings and leave the nest.
I also caught a glimpse from the window of our resident fawn. I didn't see "Bambi's Mom," but I'm sure she was somewhere nearby ...  I hope!
~Bambi?~
One of the joys of our property has been the wild black-raspberries that grow alongside our long driveway and the edge of the woods. Each year the dogs let me know when they have ripened, and this year wasn't any different. They love them as much as we do!
~Josh (left) and Sheba~
Generally we're able to pick several buckets full each year ...
~Sheba exhausted from supervising the berry picking~
Which provides enough for a cobbler or two like the one I made this morning along with a plentiful supply for snacking out of hand and a few to freeze too.
 Cobbler recipe here
The cold and snowy winter we suffered through was tough on these old berries.  But it hasn't stopped the long canes from being full with the plump, sweet black-raspberries that we adore.
~Sheba, my berry-picking assistant~
Even CarrieAnne felt well enough to join us yesterday.  I am so grateful and relieved that the lump is slowly shrinking in size.  Your prayers and good vibes have made a difference -- There is still a ways to go, so if you don't mind, please keep them coming for her!
Another sign of summer was a harmless black snake on our porch this afternoon.  He was curled up on the back of the old chair.  For some reason, I wasn't as afraid seeing a snake as I have been in the past.
But he quickly left when he was disturbed.  However, it's still a sign I could do without!
I hope you've had a good weekend too!     

25 comments:

  1. Kim, sounds like a calm time for you and the dogs. So glad CarrieAnne is feeling better. I will keep her in my prayers! Hubby and I picked some raspberries near the walking trail this morning. They were yummy! Enjoy and have a happy week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. so glad carrie anne is hanging in there and even getting better! the berry picking pooches just crack me up! but that kind of cobbler is my FAVORITE dessert!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like you had a good weekend. We have lots of raspberries around our property but it seems that the wildlife enjoys it before we can get to them. No problem that is why we have it around to attract the birds and beasts. Have a good week.

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Most snakes are good people.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad things are going well. Love the berry-picking dogs.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carrie Anne looks quite happy to be outdoors, too.
    I would not have liked to find a snake on the porch! Glad it wasn't poisonous!
    Prayers and good thoughts for the coming week, Kim. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'll be right over for some of that homemade cobbler. Loved your pictures and of course continued prayers for Carrie Anne.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good to see a photo of Todd :-) wow that's a delish cobbler. Happy Summer. Golden Woofs

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such wonderful, good news about Carrie Anne! I will keep all of you in my heart.
    I love the picture of Josh and Sheba finding such good eating right at their level. Sheba looks like one contented dog.
    Thanks for the cobbler recipe. It sure does look good.
    Gus' Mom

    ReplyDelete
  10. wonderful post, love the dogs buried in the raspberry bushes !

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this and what an awesome start to your summer!!!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  12. I got your link from Inger and she told me about your retriever rescue efforts. God bless you for what you do. I scrolled through many photos on your old blog... the photos made me feel happy. the photos today of the dogs in the berry patch put joy in my heart but the best of all is Sheba with her paws holding the berries in her sleep. we have black snakes to. hubby takes them to the front yard to keep them away from Jake who takes them OUT if we don't.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Morning Kim, oh you know it;s summer when the carny's in town. Sweet baby's, love the wee fawn and birdies, the snake, not so much.... Yum, cobbler looks so good, one of my fav's. Hug those furry faces for me, Blessings Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ah summer! Don't you just LOVE it, Kim!
    Lovely post!

    ReplyDelete
  15. puppy paws and berries
    green grass and little black snakes
    cobbler and summer days...
    this was a wee symphony of a post dear heart!
    love carrie anne's 'always' smile. don't think I've ever seen her not smiling.
    blessings of good health heaped upon her sweet head. xo♥
    and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yup summer has arrived here to ! Hot humid sunny and stormy as well ! Lovely photos . Oh the cobbler looks and sounds YUMMY ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good week !

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wonderful pictures and wonderful stories! Thanks for the recipe; looks fabulous! Wish i had those dogs to steer me to some wild ones!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh and those little Eastern Phoebes are sooooooooooooo cute!

    ReplyDelete
  19. We are sooooo happy Carrie Ann is feeling better AND that summer has finally arrived. Bumper crop of blackberries expected here this year too. Will use your recipe, last time a pie was made many years ago the sugar was forgotten (I won't name names). Let's just say I thought my cheeks would cave in from the tartness!!! GAK

    ReplyDelete
  20. Enjoy a good summer Kim..love from me Ria......x!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Crazy snake coming up with all those dogs around. He wasn't after the little Phoebes was he?

    So happy for CarrieAnne, that she can get out and enjoy all the family activities. That cobbler looks fantastic.

    XXXOOO Bella Roxy & dui

    ReplyDelete
  22. The berry picking dogs crack me up. :) The cobbler looks delicious!! Happy to see CarrieAnne out and about with you all. Happy Summer!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a happy post! :) Yes, I'll keep sending good vibes for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lovely post. Great pix - aww isn't Bambi? the cutest. Healing vibes still on the airwaves.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great photos!
    So happy to read that Carrie Anne is doing well!
    Omg! that snake! I am deathly afraid of any snake, any size.
    I would have had a heart attack.

    ReplyDelete

Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!